Means for controlling the feeding of metal coil strip to scroll shears or the like



SIMPSON MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEEDING OF METAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 30, 1949.

COIL STRIP T0 SCROLL SHEARS OR THE LIKE Flled July 11 1947 oeo puo. 4 u

Aug. 30, 1949.

Filed July 11, 1947 J. SIMPSON 2,480,781

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEEDING OF METAL COIL STRIP TO SCROLL SHEARS OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMQJ L MZ M J. SIMPSON MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEEDING OF METAL COIL STRT'P TO SCROLL SHEARS OR THE LIKE Aug. 30, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11, 1947 3mm JmSiilL Si P8010,

Aug. 30, 1949. J. SIMPSON 2,480,731

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEEDING OF METAL COIL STRIP T0 SCROLL SHEARS OR THE LIKE Filed July 11, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 me i Jlw'h'm lim wolz.

wmmimgmf Patented Aug. 30, 1949 2,480,781 MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FEEDING OF METAL COIL STRIP TO SHEARS OR THE LIKE SCROLL Justin Simpson, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Continental Can Company. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1947, Serial No. 760,338

16 Claims. (01. 164-49) This invention relates generally to the feeding of rolled steel tin strip from a coil to a scroll shear or the like by which it is cut into sheets of accurate, uniform length, and it primarily seeks to provide novel means for effecting and controlling the feeding of the strip in properly timed relation to the automatically operating shear and suitable sheet length determining stop means.

It has been proposed heretofore to continuously feed strip of the character stated by use of suitable feeding means such as leveler rolls, and to automatically cut the continuously travelling strip into sheet lengths, as by use of flying shears or comparable cutting devices designed to travel with the strip during the actual cutting operation. Such apparatus has been found somewhat objectionable in use because of the lack of accuracy and uniformity in the cutting of the sheet length, and it was also found that the movin cutting devices tended to drag the strip through the leveler rolls during each cutting function in a manner for objectionably marring the surface a of the strip.

the making of each cut, and it was found impossible, because of variation in strip surface and thickness, to control the feed speed of the leveler rolls with such accuracy as to assure the intermittent formation of a slack hump or loop always within a proper operating range. When the feed speed of the rolls was too high the slack hump or 100p would accumulate and get out of control, and when the roll speed was too low an insufilcient length of strip would be fed between cutting intervals and the strip end would not reach the stop means and sheets shorter than the intended length would be cut. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide in a strip feeding and cutting apparatus of the character stated, a variable speed drive for the continuous strip feeding means, and novel control means effective to automatically reduce the speed of said feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point, and to increase said speed each time the slack hump reaches a predetermined low point, thereby to maintain the desired intermittent hump formation within a proper operating range that will assure against the hump getting out of control at any time and also that a sumcient length of strip always will be fed into contact with the gage stop means between cutting intervals.

An object of the invention is to provide a strip feed control of the character stated in which the contral devices effective to increase the speed of the strip feeding means will function for the purpose stated only when the slack hump, at its maximum height during a cutting operation at the then effective feed speed adjustment, falls below the predetermined low point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip feed control of the character stated including a variable speed roll driving means, and electrically controlled means for adjusting said driving means and including a high limit switch and means for bringing about a closing of the same and a decreasing of the strip feed speed Whenever the strip slack hump reaches a predetermined high point, and a low limit switch and means for bringing about a closing of the same and an increasing of the strip feed speed each time said hump reaches a predetermined low point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip feed control of the character stated in which the variable speed drive adjusting means includes an adjuster wheel, a lever swingable about the axis of the wheel and adjustably secured to and projecting beyond the periphery of the wheel, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and having a plunger attached thereto and projecting from the cylinder and having slot and pin connection with the lever, a valve shiftable for alternately directing pressure fluid to opposite sides of the piston in the cylinder, and solenoid means controlled by the switches for shifting the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip feed control of the character stated in which the electrically controlled means for adjusting the variable speed roll driving means includes a third switch which is normally open and which is operated by a cam rotating in timed relation to the shearing means to close said switch when the strip slack hump shall have reached its maximum height during a given sheet cutting operation, said switch being connected in series with the low limit switch so that the control devices efiective to increase the speed of the strip feeding means will function for the purpose stated only when the slack hump, at its maximum height during a cutting operation at the then effective feed speed adjustment, falls below the predetermined low point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strip feed control of the character stated in which there is included novel means for causing the strip to form into a slack hump as it' is being continuously fed while being stopped at the shearing station and including devices for confining the hump in proper position for contacting with and actuating means for controlling the opening and closing of the high and low limit switches.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the inven-.

tion will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation illustrating the mounting of the timing switch at the side of the apparatus opposite that shown in Figure 1:

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation at the position of the strip slack hump, the

hump being shown at its upper limit in full lines,

and at the lower limit in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section of the switch actuater rod support,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation illustrating the electrically. controlled, fluid pressure operated means for adjusting the speed of operation of the strip feeding means.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a portion of a machine embodying the invention, the section being taken at the location of the shearing station.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is included a coil or supply roll of rolled steel tin strip A from which the strip S is fed by suitable continuous feed means, such as leveler rolls B, over a feed table 0 which includes an upwardly convex hump forming portion D. The rolls B are driven by driving means generally designated E under control of automatic control devices generally designated F. The strip S is fed over the table C and through shearing devices G which serve to cut the same into sheets of definite length determined by the stops generally designated H, and which will be referred to hereinafter. It is to be understood thatin passing from the coil A to the leveler rolls B the strip may pass through suitable edge slitting devices which trim the edges and accurately determine the width of the strip, but said devices are omitted in the present illustration for purposes of simplicity.

The strip coil is supported on an arbor 5 preferably having a braking device applied thereon for suitably controlling the drawing off of the strip, said braking devices being omitted in the present disclosure for purposes of simplicity. The strip passes through the leveler rolls 8 which have suitable cooperating driving connections and to which rotation is imparted by chain and sprocket driving connections I from the power shaft 8. The power shaft 8 is driven through the gear couple 9 from the shaft l0 which is in turn driven by sprocket and chain connections I I from a shaft 12 of the Reeves drive generally designated l3. Any approved form of variable speed driving unit may be employed, and the well known type of type of driving unit referred to are to be found in the patents to Heyer 2,078,196, issued April 20, 1937, and Keller. 2,266,687, issued December 16,

v 1941. The driving unit includes a driving motor generally designated l4 and which serves to drive the shaft [2 and the shaft IS, the shaft I! being driven at variable speeds determined by selectively turning the adjuster wheel l6.

In the practical development of the invention, the adjuster wheel l6 mounted on the adjuster shaft ll of the variable speed driving unit has the peripheral edge portion thereof provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores extending transversely therethrough, and an adiuster arm it freely swingable about the axis of the adjuster shaft I1 is adjustably secured to the apertured periphery of the wheel by a removable pin IS. The arm l8 has slot and pin connection as at 20 with a thrust member 2| which may be vertically-adjustably secured as at 22 on a support member 23. The support member 23 is secured to a plunger 24 which is reciprocable in a cylinder 25 and said plunger is attached to a piston 26 which is slidable within said cylinder.

A roller is mounted on the lower end of the sup-' port member 23 and is adapted to ride over a suitably supported horizontal trackway 28.

Pressure fluid ducts 29 lead into the opposite ends of the cylinder 25 from a four-way valve 30, and the rotor 3| of the valve is equipped with suitably placed flow passages effective to selectively connect the ducts 29 with the pressure fluid supply inlet 32 Or the exhaust port 33 of the valve. The valve rotor is equipped with a crank 34 having connection at 35 with the plungers of two solenoids 36 and 37. It is to be understood that when one solenoid is energized the valve rotor will be shifted to direct fluid into the cylinder in a manner for forcing the piston 26 toward one end of said cylinder, the pressure fluid then exhausting from the other end of the cylinder, and when the other solenoid is energized, pressure fluid will be directed behind the piston in the said other end of the cylinder and the pressure fluid will be exhausted from the first mentioned end of the cylinder, thereby forcing the plunger 24 out of the cylinder or drawing the same into the cylinder to suitably turn the adjuster wheel l6 and increase or diminish the driving speed of the shaft 12 and the speed of travel of the strip S.

The feed table C includes suitable frame structure 38, and a rollway 39 over which the strip 8 moves. .In the rollway there is included an upwardly convex hump starter 40, and at the advance and trailin ends of the hump starter upstanding hump defining guards 4| are provided. From the rollway 39 the strip S passes over a table 42 and over a feed roll 43 to which rotation is imparted by a separate motor 44 through pulley and drive belt transmission devices generally designated 45. Above the feed roll 43 is mounted an idler roll 43, and just beyond the feed roll is mounted a strip clamp 41. The idler roll 46 and the clamp 41 are alternately lifted by lifter arm devices 48 actuated by cams 49 mounted on a cam shaft 50 to which rotation is imparted through sprocket and chain transmission connections 5| from the crank shaft 52. The crank shaft 52 is in turn driven by a gear couple 53 from the shaft I5 01' the driving unit generally designated l3.

Just beyond the strip clamp 41 a scroll die 34 is suitably mounted on a frame part 55 in position for cooperating with the vertically reciprocable scroll shear 56 which is mounted on the crosshead 51 and operated by pitmen 58 connected with the cranks or eccentrics 59 secured on the crank shaft 52.

' After passing the shearing station, the strip 8 passes between upper stationary guide rails 60 and lower, vertically reciprocable guide rails 6|, and over continuously driven belt 62. The belts 62 pass over idler pulleys 63 and over driver pulleys 64," the latter being driven by pulley and belt transmission connections 65 from the separate motor 66.

In order to accurately determine the length of the sheets cut by the reciprocating shear and die equipments 54, 56 from the continuous strip S, the free end of the strip is fed against stop devices 61. The stop members are mounted on a frame generally designated 68 and which is connected to the free ends of the horizontally disposed arms of bell crank levers 69 so that as the lever arms are oscillated upwardly and downwardly the frame 68, the guide rails 6| and the stop members 61 will move upwardly and downwardly therewith. The downwardly extending arms of the bell crank levers 69 are equipped with rollers which engage the arm oscillating cams 18 secured on the cam shaft II which is driven through a suitable gear coupling generally designated I2 from the crank shaft 52.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings that as the strip S is drawn from the coil A and fed over the rollway 99 and table 42 by the leveler rolls 6 the free end of the strip will come against the elevated stop members 61 so as to be intercepted a deflnite distance beyond the scroll die 54. Obviously at the time the strip is being advanced in the manner stated between leveler rolls 6, the scroll shear 56, the strip clamp 41 and also the idler roll 46 will be in raised position out of contact with the strip. The parts are so timed that as soon as the sheet length to be cut off the free end of the strip S is gaged by the contact with the stop members 61 referred to, the clamp member 41 then descends to securely clamp the strip, and thereafter the scroll shear 56 descends and severs the accurately gaged sheet length from the end of the strip. After the shear 56 moves upwardly out of contact with the strip,

and as the clamp 41 moves away, the idler roll 4'6 is lowered into engagement with the strip S directly over the continuously rotating feed roll 43, and the contact of said rolls with the strip serves to initiate the forward feeding movement of the free end of the strip. It will be apparent that while the strip S is clamped at the shearing station, the continuously rotating leveler rolls 6 continue forward feeding of the strip with the result that a slack hump will form in the strip directly over the hump starter 48 and between the confiing guards 4|. It is the purpose of the present invention to so control the feeding of the strip as to assure the provision of a slack hump, the height of which will be retained within a proper operating range, and the cooperation of the rolls 43 and 46 hereinabove referred to avoid the necessity of relying upon gravity action in running out the slack in the strip at the position of the slack hump. It has been found that gravity action is too slow in running out slack humps of the character referred to, and it is also undesirable to rely upon the running out of such slack to provide for accurate gaging of the free end of the strip against sheet length determining stops. According to the present invention, the running out of the slack hump is initiated by the cooperative action of the rolls 43 and 46, the final portion of the slack hump run out is accomplished by gravity action and the final feeding of the free end of the strip against the stops H is accomplished by the leveler rolls 8. It is to be understood, of course, that the stop devices H are operated in suitably timed relation to the feeding of the strip and the other operating parts so that said stops will always be in position for properly'intercepting the free end of the strip prior to shear cutting, and will move downwardly out of the way of the sheet after each shear cutting action with the vertically reciprocable guide rails 6| so that the continuously traveling belts 62 can convey the cut sheets to the pinch rolls 13 which are driven by a suitable gear couple 14 from the shaft on which the pulleys 64 are mounted and which serve to feed the sheets onto any suitable take-away mechanism.

Between the hump guards 4| and at one side of the machine, there is mounted a support standard 15 whereon a vertically disposed guide 16 is supported in any suitable manner. A slide 11 is suitably guided in the member 16 and is equipped at one face with the upper cam 18 and a lower cam 19. At its lower end the slide 11 is equipped with a longitudinally extending yoke 88 disposed in position for intercepting upward movement of the slack hump of the strip S, and gravity action constantly tending to lower the slide I1 may be augmented by a compression spring 8| interposed between said yoke and the undersurface of the slide guide 16.

Upper and lower limit switches 82 and 83 are supported in vertically spaced relation on the guide 16 and the upper switch 82 is a normally open switch adapted to be closed by engagement of the slide cam 18 whenever said cam is lifted high enough to accomplish that purpose, and

the lower switch 83 is a normally closed switch which will be held open when the slide cam I9 is lifted in position for contacting the same but will be closed each time said cam 19 falls to a predetermined low level at which it moves out of contact with said switch 83.

One of the contacts of the upper switch 82 is connected as at 84 with one power line 85, and

the other contact of said switch is connected as at 86 with the solenoid 38 which is in turn connected as at 8'! with the other power line 88.

One contact of the lower switch 83 is connected as at 89 with the conductor 84, and the other contact of said switch is connected as at 98 with one contact of a timing switch 9| mounted as at 92 at the strip shearing station. The other contact of the timing switch 9| is connected as at 93 with the solenoid 31 which is in turn connected as at 94' with the conductor 81.

It will be apparent by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings that the switch 9| is normally held open by a plunger 95 which is spring held as at 96 against the periphery of a cam 91 secured upon the cam shaft 58. The cam 91 is provided with a peripheral recess 98 which is effective to allow the plunger 95 to fall and close the timing switch 9| once for each rotation of the cam.

In adjusting the apparatus for arm, the adjuster wheel I6 is manually adjusted to a proper operating speed effective to cause the leveler rolls 6 to feed the strip S in properly timed relation to the reciprocation of the shear 56 and the clamp member 41 to always assure that the free 7 end of the strip 8 will be fed against the stop means H after each sheet shearing operation without providing a slack hump high enough to get out of control. After the adjustment of the wheel I6, the arm securing pin I9 is mounted in a suitably selected aperture in the wheel and the arm I8 with the piston 28 at the proper end of the cylinder 25 and the arm l8 projecting at such angle as to permit full stroke movement of the piston by pressure fluid action in the cylinder. As previously described, during each shear cutting of a sheet length from the continuous strip S a slack hump will move upwardly above the hump starter 40 and between the guards ll. Should the wheel I6 have been adjusted to provide a slightly too rapid feeding of the strip 8, the slack hump will become slightly higher at each shear cutting action and finally exceed the If the feeding of the strip S at the reduced,

adjusted speed results in a gradual lowering of the successively formed slack humps in the strip below the low limit of the predetermined operating range of the hump, the slide cam I8 will have moved away from and permitted an opening of the upper limit switch 82 and the lower cam I9 will have moved downwardly away from and permitted a closing of the lower limit switch 83. The closing of the lower limit switch 83 will complete an electric circuit through the solenoid 31 only when the closing of the lower limit switch 83 coincides with a closing of the timingswitch In other words, whenever the maximum height of the slack hump, during a sheet cutting operation at the then effective feed speed adjustment, falls below the predetermined low point, the closing of the limit switch 9| will coincide with the closing of the lower limit switch 83 and the solenoid 31 will be energized to shift the valve rotor 3| to direct pressure fluid into the cylinder 25 in a manner for shifting the adjuster wheel IS in the opposite or strip feed speed increasing direction. By this automatic adjustment of the feeding speed of the strip S, the desired slack hump in the strip is effectively maintained within a proper operating range, and, as before stated, the shifting of the speed decreasing device is effected only when the closing of the timing switch 9i controlled by the positioning of the cam recess 98 in timed relation to the shearing operation coincides with the closing of the lower limit switch 83 with the slack hump at its maximum height during a cutting operation at the then effective feed speed adjustment and at a level below the predetermined low point.

A contact bar 99 is suitably supported on the machine framing in position for extending over the slack hump between the guards H, and said bar is provided along its under surface with a contact strip I00. The strip I00 may be connected at IIlI with the coil I02 of a relay switch I03 adapted to make and break contacts across one of the lines I04 by which the motor I4 of the variable speed drive generally designated I3 is connected with the power lines 85 and 88. The other conductor connecting the motor II with the power lines 85 and 88 is indicated at I05. The coil III: also is connected as at I08 through a step down transformer IIII with the power line 88, and said transformer is grounded as at I08 and connected as at I 08 with the power line 80. The frame table rollway contacted by the strip 8 may be grounded as at IIO so that at any time the slack hump rises to a height for contacting the bar contact I00, as during a jam in the machine or during initial operation when the adjuster wheel may have been adjusted for too great a speed, a circuit will be completed through the coil I02 which will be effective to open the relay switch I 08 and break the electrical circuit through the conductor lines I04, I05 and discontinue operation of the driving motor".

The specific arrangement of the shearing devices, the stop means, the strip clamp, the slack hump run out initiating rolls, and the means for operating and cooperatively timing the operation of these features form no part of the present invention, said features being disclosed in detail and covered in the copending application for U. S. Letters Patent filed by Scott R. Johnson, James M. Royal and Herbert Schrader on July 11, 1947, identified by Serial Number 760,408.

While it is practically impossible to provide and maintain a predetermined fixed feed speed travel of the continuously fed coil strip 8 that will assure the formation of a slack hump of just the right size, because of slippage between the strip and the feeding rolls and lack of uniformity of thickness and surface finish of the strip, the herein disclosed feed control devices are capable of acting automatically to adjust and readjust the feed speed so as to maintain the formed slack hump within the predetermined proper operating range. It will be apparent that the connection between the speed adjustment shifting devices and the drive speed adjusting wheel It can be adjusted by changing the connection I9 of the shifter arm I 8 with said wheel at will, and also that the degree of movement of the adjuster wheel imparted upon each shifting of the shifter devices can be varied by simple adjustment of the point of contact of the shifter devices with said shifter arm.

While the herein disclosed apparatus is designed primarily for controlling the continuous feeding of coil strip to intermittently operating scroll shearing means effective in combination with stop devices to accurately cut scrolled sheets from the continuously fed strip, it is to be understood that the invention also comprehends the equivalent controlled feeding of strip to other intermittently operating strip working means of which straight shears, punch cutters or similar devices form examples.

Also while one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement 01' parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means. means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, and electrically controlled means including a contact member engageable by a slack hump of a predetermined height and a circuit completed through the metal strip itself for discontinuing the operation of said strip feeding means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means,

means for definitely placing the strip slack accumulation incidental to each continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working-means, and electrically controlled means including a contact member engageable by a slack accumulation of predetermined proportion and a circuit completed through the metal strip itself for discontinuing the operation of. said strip feeding means.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means,

means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, means engageable with the slack accumulation and operable to automatically vary the speed of the strip feeding means in a manner for maintaining the slack accumulation within a predetermined operating range, and electrically controlled means including a contact member engageable by a slack hump of a predetermined height and a circuit completed through the metal strip itself for discontinuing the operation of said strip feeding means.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for definitely placing the strip slack accumulation incidental to each continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, means engageable with the slack accumulation and operable to automatically vary the speed of the strip feeding means in a manner for maintaining the slack accumulation within a predetermined operating range, and electrically controlled means including a contact member engageable by a slack accumulation of predetermined proportion and a circuit completed through the metal strip itself for discontinuing the operation of said strip feeding means.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump at its high point during a strip working action at the then effective strip feed speed falls to a predetermined low level.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip Working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged. by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump at its high point during a strip working action at the then effective strip feed speed falls to a predetermined low level, said last named means including a member shiftable for varying the speed of said strip feeding means, and electrically controlled means for shifting said member and including a high level switch operable by raising movement of the slack hump to effect a speed increasing shift and a low level switch operable by lowering movement of the slack hump and connected to operate in series with a timing switch timed to close each time the slack hump is at maximum height for the then effective strip feed speed.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump falls to a predetermined low level, said last named means including a member shiftable for varying the speed of said strip feeding means, means controlled by contact with the slack hump for shifting said member, and means for varying the amount of shifting movement to be imparted to said shiftable member upon each speed adjusting shifting thereof.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predtermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged-relation to the working means, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump falls to a predetermined aceavar low level, said last named means including ameniber shiftable for varying the speed of said strip feeding means, fiuid pressure actuated means for shifting said member, and electrically actuated means controlled by contact with the slack hump for directing pressgre fluid to said shifting means.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance fromsaid stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gazed by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, and means for automatically decreasing the speed (if the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump falls to a predetermined low level, said last named means including a member shiitable for varying the speed of said strip feeding means, fluid pressure actuated means for shifting said member, solenoid actuated valve means for directing pressure fluid to said shifting means, and control switch means actuated by movement of the slack hump for controlling operation of said valve means.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump falls to a predetermined low level, said last named means including a member shiftable for varying the speed of said strip feed- .ing means, fluid pressure actuated means for shifting said member, solenoid actuated valve means fordirecting-pressure fluid to said shifting means, and control switch means actuated by movement of the slack hump for controlling operation of said valve means and including a high level switch operable by raising movement of the slack hump to effect a speed increasing shift and a low level switch operable by lowering movement of the slack hump and connected to operate in series with a timing switch timed to close each time the slack hump is at maximum height for the then effective strip feed speed.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, metal strip working means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said working means to be gaged by the stop means and worked upon by said working means, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental. to the continued feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the working means, electrically controlled means including a contact member engageable by a slack hump of a predetermined height and a circuit completed through the metal strip itself for discontinuing the operation of said strip feedingmeans, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump reaches a predetermined high point and for automatically increasing the speed of the strip feeding means whenever the slack hump at its high point during a strip working action at the then effective strip feed speed falls to a predetermined low level.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, reciprocable shearing means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, roll means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said shearing means to be gaged by the stop means and cutinto sheets by said shearing means, means for driving said roll means including a variable speed driving unit having an adjuster wheel turnable in one direction or the other to increase or diminish the speed at which the roll means is driven, an arm secured to and projecting radially from said wheel, a cylinder having a piston and plunger reclprocable therein, means connecting the plunger with said arm, valve means for directing pressure fluid into a selected end of the cylinder for moving the piston therein and imparting a speed adjusting turning movement of said wheel, means for deiinitely placing the strip slack accumulation incidental to each feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the shearing means, and electrically actuated means controlled by the amount of strip slack accumulation for shifting the valve means to bring about a decreasing of the speed of the roll means when the slack accumulation reaches a predetermined maximum andan increasing of said speed when the slack accumulation reaches a predetermined minimum.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, reciprocable shearing means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, roll means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said shearing means to be gaged by the stop means and cut into sheets by said shearing means, means for driving said roll means including a variable speed driving unit having an adjuster wheel turnable in one direction or the other to increase or diminish the speed at which the roll means is driven, an arm secured to and projecting radially from said wheel, a cylinder having a piston and plunger reclprocable therein, means connecting the plunger with said arm, valve means for directing pressure fluid into a selected end of thecylinder for moving the piston therein and imparting a speed adjusting turning movement of said wheel, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to each feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the shearing means, and electrically actuated means controlled by the amount of strip slack hump for shifting the valve means to bring about a decreasing of the speed of the roll means when the slack hump reaches a predetermined maximum and an increasing of said speed when the slack hump reaches a, predetermined minimum when at its maximum height during a strip shearing action at the then effective strip feed speed.

14. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of stop means, reciprocable' shearing means placed a, predetermined definite distance from said stop means, roll means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said shearing means to be gaged by selected end of the cylinder for moving the piston therein and imparting a speed adjusting turning movement of said wheel, means for forming and definitely placing a slack hump in the strip incidental to each feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the shearing means, and electrically actuated means controlled by the amount of strip slack hump for shifting the valve means to bring about a decreasing of the speed of the roll means when the slack hump reaches a predetermined maximum and an increasing of said speed when the slack hump reaches a predetermined minimum when at its maximum height during a strip shearing action at the then efiective strip feed speed, said valve shifting means comprising two solenoids one of which is energized when it is proper to efiect a speed decreasing adjustment of the valve and the other of which is energized when it is proper to eflect a speed increasing adjustment of the valve, said one solenoid being controlled by means including a normally open high level switch closable by raising movement of the slack hump, and said other solenoid being controlled by means including a low level switch held open whenever the slack hump is at or above a predetermined low level and a, timing switch connected in series with the low level switch and means for closing the timing switch once during each shear cutting action.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, reciprocable shearing means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, roll means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said shearing means to be gaged by the stop means and cut into sheets by said shearing means, means for driving said roll means including a variable speed driving unit having an adjuster wheel turnable in one direction or the other to increase or diminish the speed at which the roll means is driven, an arm secured to and projecting radially from said wheel, a cylinder having a piston and plunger reciprocab le therein, means connecting the plunger with said arm. valve means for directing pressure fluid into a selected end of the cylinder for moving the piston therein and imparting a speed adjusting turning movement of said wheel, means for definitely placing the strip slack accumulation incidental to each feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the shearing means, and electrically'actuated means controlled by the amount of strip slack accumulation for shifting the valve means to bring about a decreasing of the speed of the roll means when the slack accumulation reaches a predetermined maximum and an increasing of said speed when the slack accumulation reaches a predetermined minimum, said means providing connection between the cylinder plunger and the arm projecting radially from the adjuster wheel being placeable a greater or lesser distance from the wheel center so as to vary the amount of turning movement to be imparted to the wheel upon each shifting of the piston in said cylinder.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of stop means, reciprocable shearing means placed a predetermined definite distance from said stop means, roll means for continuously feeding metal strip toward said stop means and said shearing means to be gaged by the stop means and cut into sheets by said shearing means, means for driving said roll means including a variable speed driving unit having an adjuster wheel turnable in one direction or the other to increase or diminish the speed at which the roll means is driven, an arm secured to and projecting radially from said wheel, a cylinder having a piston and plunger reciprocable therein, means connecting the plunger with said arm, valve means for directing pressure fluid into a selected end of the cylinder for moving the piston therein and imparting a speed adjusting turning movement of said wheel, means for definitely placing the strip slack accumulation incidental to each feeding of the strip while it is held in gaged relation to the shearing means, and electrically actuated means'controlled by the amount of strip slack accumulation for shifting the valve means to bring about a decreasing of the speed of the roll means when the slack accumulation reaches a predetermined maximum and an increasing of said speed when the slack accumulation reaches a predetermined minimum, said means providing connection between the cylinder plunger and the arm projecting radially from the adjuster wheel being placeable a greater or lesser distance from the wheel center so as to vary the amount of turning movement to be imparted to the wheel upon each shifting of the piston in said cylinder, said arm being swingable about the axis of the wheel and attached to the wheel at selective positions about the periphery thereof.

JUSTIN SIMPSON.

No references cited. 

